Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

rival bands. If they admitted one band and supplied it with food as they were usually forced to do, the other party would interpret this hospitality, even though forced, as sympathy with the enemy, which would not pass without punishment. Finally the sleepers were convinced that we were not coming to steal and rob, but rather to bring them food; and soon the doors were opened and we were welcomed. Bedding was scarce, so it happened that some of our party had to sleep practically without covers and the others without mattress. We rested through the remainder of the night. In the morning we found our hosts very con- genial people, who had gone through some heartbreaking experiences during the massacres, a few years earlier. The lady of the house had lost her first husband through the hands of ruffians; and the husband of this family had lost his first wife and six children during the same terrible night. A Day AMONG THE BRETHREN AT SAGRADOWKA Soon after breakfast, the local committee was called together and relief problems were discussed and _ final arrangements made for the distribution of the American food as soon as it would arrive. For the afternoon a public meeting was arranged, so as to give us a little more direct personal touch with the masses. The house was well filled. Bro. Krehbiel and J delivered messages of comfort and encouragement from God’s Holy Word. The rest of the day was spent in personal interviews, and in listening to tales of horror of which there seemed to be no end. 252 FEEDING THE HUNGRY A CALL AT GRUENFELD AND THE FRIEDENSFELD EPISODE The next morning we started on the return trip. Even though the roads were still heavy and we often had to go on low speed, the sun was shining and gave us promise of better traveling before long. We reached Gruenfeld at noon, met some members of the local com- mittee, completed our arrangements for sending more food, and were off again at about three o’clock. All was going well until we lost our way and ran out of gasoline, so that by nightfall, we were only at Friedensfeld instead of at Alexandrowsk some fifty miles away. Our guide being acquainted at this village directed us to the home of a Mennonite named Isaac. After driving into the yard we noticed that there were rather a large number of people assembled. Some were in the yard and others lined up on the porch. Rather conspicuous among the latter was a tall man, with a bandage running from under his chin and over his head, which gave him an odd appearance. After the first surprise was over, we were ushered into the house, and before long we were sur- rounded by a representative group of people from the village, apparently under tense emotion. Our inquiry brought out the reply, “Our prayers have brought you here. ‘[o-morrow we shall all go to prison. The kitchen where American food is distributed has been seized by the local official.” We had indeed not planned to stop